Improvement in magazines for attachment to machine-guns



2Sh eets--Sheet1 B. B. HOTCHKISS.

Magazines for Attachment to Machine-Guns.

N0-154,551. PatentedSept.1,1874.

B. B. HOTCHKISS;

Magazines for Attachment to Machine-Guns.

No.l54,55f j-4- PatentedSept.1,1874.

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xwm'iiif *9 M MW Q 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

BENJAMIN B.- HOTOHKISS, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT m mneazmssron ATTACHMENT TO lvlAcnme-cuus,

Specification forming part of Letters Patent Ne l 54,551, dated September 1,1874; application filed February 26. 1874.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN B. Horbn clinatiourelatively to the gun, so that, as

the elevation of the gun is increased or diminished, the feed-case can be correspondingly inclined thereon, so as to stand' always perpendicularly, or nearly so.

The following is a description of what I consider the best: means of carrying out the invention. I

The accompanying'drawings form a part of this specification, and represent two modifications, one much more elaborate than the other, but both involving the same general idea.

Figure 1 is a side elevatiomshowing one of the simplest forms of feed-cases, with a central vertical section of a portion of the breech of the gun. Fig. 2 is a cross-section. It represents the parts in the plane of the section, with only such other parts as are necessary to indicate the application of the feedcase to the gun. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section. The additional figures show the same principle of construction as applied to more elaborate cylindrical loading-cases. Fig. 4 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, showing the gun nearly level, and the chargingcylinder mounted with its axis nearly at right angles thereto. Fig. 5 is a portion of a corresponding view, with the gun considerably inclined, the charging-cylinder having been properly adjusted in position to allow for the inclination.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding partsjn all the figures wherever -they occur.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A B represent the ordinary parts of a gun of the mitrailleuse or Gatling construction. 0 is the always stand and move vertical plate fixed on the breech portion of the gun, which forms one side of the feedtrough. D D are front and rear guide-pieces, made capable of turning on the pivots or hinges d d, and of being set or held at any required inclination by means of screws E, standing in slots 0. The cartridges, being fed down in the feed-trough formed by the front and rear guide-pieces D D and the wall 0, downward with their axes parallel to the barrel B. The space between'the guide-pieces D D will be always about right however the inclination of the gun, and consequently the relative inclination of the guide-pieces, may be changed. At all practicable inclihations'of the gun. the guidepieces D D may be correspondingly inclined relatively thereto, so as to stand upright, and the cartridges introduced at the top will feed down vertically.

In the more elaborate Figs. 4 and 5 the feeddrum is represented as mounted on a platform, M, which is capable of being tilted on pivots or hinges m, and of being adjusted in the required inclination by means of the nuts pp on the screw-bolt P. In this construction the feed-trough leading from the plat form M down to the line of the barrel is made capable ofexpansion and contraction by means of a slide-piece, T, pivoted at t to the platform M and guided at its lower" end in a groove in the fixed walls of the gun. The cartridges are prevented from escaping laterally when the gun is at a great elevation by means of the side wings m, which extend down into corresponding recesses a in the side of the fixed feed-trough.

The invention may be readily adapted to various forms and proportions of machineguns. A trough with solid sides can be made to feed into a gun by having the bottom out quit at the desired angle, and pivoted on one s1 0.

I have found it impossible to feed a gun successfully at an elevation of more than twenty degrees when the feed-trough is stationary in a plane at right angles to the line of the barrel. The cartridges will not slide down with sufiicient freedom when the passage is thus .greatly inclined; but with my adjustable trough the path for the motion of the PATENT OFFICE.

(-.m-tridgcsnn|-y be always very nearly 'ertical,

and the cartridges feed down perfectly.

I claim as my invention- 1. The adjust-able guides 1), turning on centers (1, in combination with a sustaining part, (3, mill confining means 1'}, all adapted for attnclnnent on thebarrcl B of a nachine-gnn, as herein specified.

2. In combination with a machine-gun, an adjustable inclined feed-passage, adapted to allow the cartridges to be supplied vertically at all practicable inclinations of' the gun, as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name in presence of, two subscribing witnesses.

B. B. HOTG'HKISS. Witnesses: 0n. '1. Tmmon, DAVID T. S. FULLER. 

